Graffiti Goes on Display

Whether you think graffiti is vandalism or the latest fine art, there’s no denying its cultural impact as street art exhibitions and tours continue to pop up across the United States.

Through Aug. 8, Los Angeles’ Museum of Contemporary Art is hosting “Art in the Streets,” the first major U.S. exhibition highlighting the art form’s controversial history.

Stop by Monday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. for your last chance to take advantage of free Monday admission to the museum’s Geffen Contemporary, sponsored by popular street artist Banksy. The elusive artist told the museum: "I don’t think you should have to pay to look at graffiti. You should only pay if you want to get rid of it.” To find out more about the exhibition, click here.

In Miami, a company called Roam Rides is now offering two-hour graffiti tours of the city’s Wynwood Arts District. A local graffiti artist leads participants on Vespa tours to several works by locally and internationally known artists, describing the rules of tagging and the history of the art form. Click here for more information about Roam Rides’ Wynwood Street Art Tours.

Even smaller cities are getting in on the action: Portsmouth, N.H., is showing a exhibition called “Street a.k.a. Museum” through Sept. 11 that’s spurring a lot of local debate. The show includes work from six international street artists, both in the museum and in the streets of Portsmouth. Admission is free, and guided walking tours of the street art around Portsmouth are available by appointment. Click here for more information.